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by
Joel Welser
#24 UCLA
Bruins
Pac-10
2006 Record: (7-6, 5-4)
Coach: Karl Dorrell (29-21 at UCLA, 29-21
overall)
Starters Returning: 21 (10 offense, 10
defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive Starters Lost: OL Robert Chai
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Pat Cowan,
RB Chris Markey, FB Michael Pitre, WR Marcus Everett, WR Brandon Breazell, TE
Logan Paulsen, OL Shannon Tevaga, OL Chris Joseph, OL Noah Sutherland, OL
Aleksey Lanis
Defensive Starters Lost: DE Justin Hickman
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Brigham
Harwell, DT Kevin Brown, DE Bruce Davis, LB Christian Taylor, LB Reggie Carter,
LB Aaron Whittington, CB Rodney Van, CB Trey Brown, S Dennis Keyes, S Chris
Horton
Starting Specialists Lost: K Justin Medlock
Starting Specialists Returning: P Aaron Perez
When the kicker is the biggest loss on your team it
either means your team losses nobody or your kicker is really good. In this
case, it is a little bit of both. UCLA returns 20 position players and kicker
Justin Medlock was one of the best in the nation and will be working on Sundays
this year.
Offense:
Finding a little more punch to the offense is all
this team needs. Patrick Cowan is a decent quarterback and returns after
throwing for 1,782 yards in 2006. However, it is Ben Olson who has the skill set
to take the Bruins to the next level. Coach Karl Dorrell wanted to avoid a
distraction with the quarterback battle and named Olson the starter in April.
With the starting job his, Olson has to prove that he is ready to lead the team.
Running back Chris Markey led the team with 1,107
rushing yards and 35 receptions. While Markey is a dynamic back, the wide
receivers need to step up. Marcus Everett and Brandon Breazell topped the UCLA
charts in receiving yards last season and have plenty of experience and talent
to make a bigger impact this year once the quarterback situation is settled. The
offensive line, led by guard Shannon Tevaga, should help bolster both the
passing and running attacks. Four starters return and seven players with
starting experience. The lone loss, center Robert Chai, is expected to be
replaced by senior Chris Joseph, who started at guard last year.
Defense:
The Bruins only lose two players that were listed on
last year’s Emerald Bowl two-deep roster. With so much experience returning,
UCLA is expected to have a dominating defense. Replacing defensive end Justin
Hickman will not be easy, but Bruce Davis, who was named first-team All-American
by multiple media outlets, will do enough damage on his own. All five players
who started a game at linebacker are returning, led by Christian Taylor, Reggie
Carter and Aaron Whittington.
The secondary has developed into a strong point for
the defense. Cornerback Trey Brown and strong safety Chris Horton are candidates
to earn All-Pac-10 honors. Free safety Dennis Keyes and cornerback Rodney Van
also return after starting last season. However, Alterraun Verner will not make
it easy for all the returning starters to come back to their jobs. Verner, a
5-10 sophomore, earned co-Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors and will compete
with Van for playing time on the corner.
The Bottom Line:
With the inevitable Westwood quarterback controversy
settled, the Bruins are ready to make a big run. UCLA had the talent last year
to beat some great teams like USC at home and Arizona State on the road. They
also collapsed at times and lost games to Washington and Washington State that
they should have won. If consistency comes with experience, the Bruins should be
able to beat the teams they are supposed to beat and continue to pull off some
upsets. |
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